Caffe Italia One 89 is a pleasure to visit

Published: Wednesday, November 27, 2013 at 09:55 AM.

FORT WALTON BEACH – I don’t speak a word of Italian but I sure do eat it! Ravioli, lasagna, spaghetti – if pasta, tomato sauce and cheese are involved, I’m there with my formal bib on.

That’s why it was such a pleasure to visit the new Caffe Italia ONE89 (and it took me a minute to figure that out – they’re at 189 Brooks St.). The restaurant concentrates on simple, classic Italian dishes, served in a charming setting and accentuated by impeccable service.

Go there at night, when you can enjoy all the sparkly lights. Be sure to bring your appetite.

The food
Caffe Italia offers a menu packed with traditional Italian favorites – pizza, spaghetti, lasagna and chicken Parmesan to name a few – to more esoteric dishes like escargot or a stromboli-style stuffed pizza. The choices are far-flung and eclectic, promising a dish to satisfy every taste.

Start your Italian adventure with an appetizer like calamari, bruschetta salmon, carpaccio (sliced and marinated filet mignon served with greens) or a more traditional selection such as zucchini or mozzarella fries. Your server will bring a basket with warm, sliced bread accompanied by a dish of spiced olive oil for dipping.

Sandwiches include the meatball or Italian sausage sub, chicken hoagie, chicken Caesar wrap or spicy Italian sub. More coastal-oriented selections include the shrimp po boy or Fish of the Day po boy.

Hungry for a pizza that doesn’t taste like it came out of a box? Caffe Italia offers 12- or 16-inch pies in unique flavor combinations, like the Margarita, Della Casa (pesto basil or pesto arugula sauce topped with fresh veggies and mozzarella cheese) or Hawaiian (Canadian bacon, prosciutto, sliced pineapple and onions topped with mozzarella). Or you can choose your own toppings – they offer a roster that’s longer than roll call at the U.S. House of Representatives.

Seafood fans will not be disappointed with the list of shrimp, scallops, mussels, salmon, lobster or catch-of-the-day offerings, and diners wanting something more substantial can opt for an entrée such as chicken or veal Parmesan, filet mignon or grilled chicken.

Small fry get to choose between spaghetti, chicken fingers, fettuccini Alfredo or buttered noodles.

On our visit, we started with a shrimp scampi appetizer, which arrived in lemon butter and garlic sauce and was accompanied by crispy crostini. The shrimp were cooked perfectly; you bit into them with a sassy snap. And the sauce was mouth-wateringly decadent.

My companion tried the lasagna, which arrived in luscious, melty stacks of pasta, sauce, meat and cheese. I opted for the chicken Parmesan, accompanied by a side of spaghetti. The chicken had a nicely golden crust that held up to a topping of marinara sauce, and the spaghetti was a welcome side note to the meat.

The atmosphere
Caffe Italia occupies one of the restored old houses along the waterside of Brooks Street. It offers indoor seating or a sheltered outdoor area with covered windows and heaters for chilly nights.

The view is spectacular, overlooking Santa Rosa Sound and the Okaloosa Island skyline. Tiny white lights festoon the decorative shrubbery, giving the restaurant a festive look. It can get noisy when the room fills up.

The service
We received excellent service at Caffe Italia. Our server was friendly and attentive without being intrusive. Wait times for our courses were reasonable despite the crowd. At one point the owner dropped by to make sure we were receiving good service and delicious food. You can’t ask for a better service experience.

A final taste
The new Caffe Italia is a worthy addition to the downtown restaurant lineup, providing an extensive menu of traditional Italian favorites and unique offerings, along with some whose culinary roots have nothing to do with the Old Country, such as po boys and Catch of the Day. You’ll enjoy the captivating setting almost as much as the menu, and the service is above reproach.

QuickBites:

Restaurant: Caffe Italia ONE89

Location: 189 Brooks St., Fort Walton Beach

Telephone: (850) 664-0035

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-close

Handicap accessibility: Check with the restaurant; entryway was being remodeled.

FORT WALTON BEACH – I don’t speak a word of Italian but I sure do eat it! Ravioli, lasagna, spaghetti – if pasta, tomato sauce and cheese are involved, I’m there with my formal bib on.

That’s why it was such a pleasure to visit the new Caffe Italia ONE89 (and it took me a minute to figure that out – they’re at 189 Brooks St.). The restaurant concentrates on simple, classic Italian dishes, served in a charming setting and accentuated by impeccable service.

Go there at night, when you can enjoy all the sparkly lights. Be sure to bring your appetite.

The food
Caffe Italia offers a menu packed with traditional Italian favorites – pizza, spaghetti, lasagna and chicken Parmesan to name a few – to more esoteric dishes like escargot or a stromboli-style stuffed pizza. The choices are far-flung and eclectic, promising a dish to satisfy every taste.

Start your Italian adventure with an appetizer like calamari, bruschetta salmon, carpaccio (sliced and marinated filet mignon served with greens) or a more traditional selection such as zucchini or mozzarella fries. Your server will bring a basket with warm, sliced bread accompanied by a dish of spiced olive oil for dipping.

Sandwiches include the meatball or Italian sausage sub, chicken hoagie, chicken Caesar wrap or spicy Italian sub. More coastal-oriented selections include the shrimp po boy or Fish of the Day po boy.

Hungry for a pizza that doesn’t taste like it came out of a box? Caffe Italia offers 12- or 16-inch pies in unique flavor combinations, like the Margarita, Della Casa (pesto basil or pesto arugula sauce topped with fresh veggies and mozzarella cheese) or Hawaiian (Canadian bacon, prosciutto, sliced pineapple and onions topped with mozzarella). Or you can choose your own toppings – they offer a roster that’s longer than roll call at the U.S. House of Representatives.

Seafood fans will not be disappointed with the list of shrimp, scallops, mussels, salmon, lobster or catch-of-the-day offerings, and diners wanting something more substantial can opt for an entrée such as chicken or veal Parmesan, filet mignon or grilled chicken.

Small fry get to choose between spaghetti, chicken fingers, fettuccini Alfredo or buttered noodles.

On our visit, we started with a shrimp scampi appetizer, which arrived in lemon butter and garlic sauce and was accompanied by crispy crostini. The shrimp were cooked perfectly; you bit into them with a sassy snap. And the sauce was mouth-wateringly decadent.

My companion tried the lasagna, which arrived in luscious, melty stacks of pasta, sauce, meat and cheese. I opted for the chicken Parmesan, accompanied by a side of spaghetti. The chicken had a nicely golden crust that held up to a topping of marinara sauce, and the spaghetti was a welcome side note to the meat.

The atmosphere
Caffe Italia occupies one of the restored old houses along the waterside of Brooks Street. It offers indoor seating or a sheltered outdoor area with covered windows and heaters for chilly nights.

The view is spectacular, overlooking Santa Rosa Sound and the Okaloosa Island skyline. Tiny white lights festoon the decorative shrubbery, giving the restaurant a festive look. It can get noisy when the room fills up.

The service
We received excellent service at Caffe Italia. Our server was friendly and attentive without being intrusive. Wait times for our courses were reasonable despite the crowd. At one point the owner dropped by to make sure we were receiving good service and delicious food. You can’t ask for a better service experience.

A final taste
The new Caffe Italia is a worthy addition to the downtown restaurant lineup, providing an extensive menu of traditional Italian favorites and unique offerings, along with some whose culinary roots have nothing to do with the Old Country, such as po boys and Catch of the Day. You’ll enjoy the captivating setting almost as much as the menu, and the service is above reproach.

QuickBites:

Restaurant: Caffe Italia ONE89

Location: 189 Brooks St., Fort Walton Beach

Telephone: (850) 664-0035

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-close

Handicap accessibility: Check with the restaurant; entryway was being remodeled.